Twitter Acquires Social TV Tracker Trendrr — Twitter has acquired Trendrr, a social tracking TV service that until today competed with Twitter's own in-house analytics products. — After Wednesday's acquisition, the three dominant, stand-alone players in the social TV chatter space are gone.

HTC Develops China-Focused Mobile Operating System — Taiwanese Handset Maker Works With China in Bid to Revive Sales — TAIPEI—HTC Corp. is developing a mobile software system specifically for Chinese consumers, people familiar with the project say, as part of a big China bet …

In historic vote, New Zealand bans software patents — A major new patent bill, passed in a 117-4 vote by New Zealand's Parliament after five years of debate, has banned software patents. — The relevant clause of the patent bill actually states that a computer program is “not an invention.”

Verizon, Vodafone Rekindle Talks Over Verizon Wireless Stake — Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC have rekindled talks over a buyout of the U.K. company's stake in their U.S. wireless joint venture, people familiar with the matter said, an acquisition that would likely cost Verizon well over $100 billion.

U.S. Tightens Grip on Telecom — The U.S. government has used the merger-approval process to increase its influence over the telecom industry, bringing more companies under its oversight and gaining a say over activities as fundamental as equipment purchases.